In
1689 the existing Tolbooth was declared by the Town Council
to be "ruinous" and a new one was ordered to be
built. The result was one of the first tolbooths built "Strictly
in the classical manner!" and the fine "Dutch Pavillion" roof
to the tower is one of the few surviving in Scotland.

The
new tolbooth which faces onto Broad Street was built in 1703-5,
extended in 1785 and again between 1806 and 1811 when a jail
and courthouse were added. Prisoners were held in the tower
and hung outside the building for the worst crimes. Some
of the victims were said to of been buried under the foundations.
As a consequence of It's purpose the Tolbooth is said to
be very haunted, many people have heard footsteps upstairs
and felt themselves suddenly go cold.

Conditions
in the prison were condemned by the government inspectors
in early 1800's as the worst in Scotland. The Town Council
continued to hold meetings in the Tolbooth until 1875 but
by then the prison had been moved to St. John Street.

The
Toolbooth is one of the major music and performing arts venues
for Stirling.